Monrovia – Former Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Olubanke King-Akerele has told graduates of the Kofi Anna Living Memorial that the best way to memorialize the late United Nations Secretary General is to continue his work of peace and service to humanity.
Madam King-Akerele is the Board Chair of the Angie Brooks International Center for Women Empowerment, Leadership and International Peace and security.
She spoke at the Kofi Anna Living Memorial (KALM) pilot phase closing program held at the University of Liberia on Wednesday, August 14.
The Kofi Annan Institute for Peace and conflict Transformation at the University of Liberia is the umbrella institution of KALM.
It was established with support from various United Nations organizations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Liberia and the Government of Liberia to support several initiatives including the promotion of the Agenda 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Madam King-Akerele noted that KALM is modelled after the Dag Hammarskjold Living Memorial (DHLM) in Zambia and it will serve as a best way to immortalize the late UN Secretary-General for his role in bringing peace to Liberia and the world.
She recalled that Mr. Annan was supportive to the establishment of DHLM in the early 2000s and it was befitting to accord him the same honor.
“We used the world of the late Kofi Annan to say 18 years later, it is time for us to memorialized him and take his legacy into the future by creating and facilitating more and more at various levels of the society of what Kofi Anan was all about.”
Also Speaking, outgoing UN Resident Coordinator, Yacoub El Hillo challenged the graduates to demonstrate what they learned by engaging in activities geared towards promoting and maintaining the peace in Liberia.
Mr. Hillo averred that KALM is reminder for all Liberians and the world of the role the late UN Secretary-General played in putting Liberia back among the comity of nations.
He thanked the progenitor, Madam King-Akerele for the sacrifice in making the program a success and pledged the UN system’s commitment to support.
Liberia’s success story, he noted, is a clear manifestation that peace is possible and he was happily leaving because Liberia is now on the right trajectory to move ahead.
Meanwhile, 29 participants were certificated following a three month training on the promotion of the UN SDGs, with more focus on peace building.
The program, held at the University of Liberia’s Capitol Hill Campus was attended by several stakeholders including ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, Baba Tunde Ajisome, the Minister of National Defense, Daniel D. Ziahnkan, former Foreign Minister George Wallace and President of the Stella Maris Polytechnic University, Sister Mary Laurene Browne.